WBD Will 'Look Forward To NBA Executing Our New Contract' After Exercising Match Rights

[RealGM Wiretap]

Warner Bros Discovery has officially exercised its matching rights on the NBA's new media rights deal to keep airing games on TNT. The company released the following statement, which doesn't specific the package they plan on matching but reports have indicated it will be Amazon's deal worth $1.8 billion per year.

"We're proud of how we have delivered for basketball fans by providing best-in-class coverage throughout our four- decade partnership with the NBA. In an effort to continue our long-standing partnership, during both exclusive and non-exclusive negotiation periods, we acted in good faith to present strong bids that were fair to both parties.

"Regrettably, the league notified us of its intention to accept other offers for the games in our current rights package, leaving us to proceed under the matching rights provision, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we
have paid for under it.

"We have reviewed the offers and matched one of them. This will allow fans to keep enjoying our unparalleled coverage, including the best live game productions in the industry and our iconic studio shows and talent, while building on our proven 40-year commitment for many more years.

"Our matching paperwork was submitted to the league today. We look forward to the NBA executing our new contract."

Via RealGM Staff Report

[the_process]

The NBA's argument, I figure, will be that WBD can only match the NBC package or some such.

But if that was the case, why did the NBA submit all 3 offers to WBD for review? Either the clause says they can match other offers or it does not.

And then, WBD matches the Amazon offer to the tee or they do not.

Watching games on Prime would be super annoying though. So the package really should stay at WBD on cable anyway. You can go to your dream PPV model next time, Nosferatu.

[MitchB3]

The Silver knew what he was doing. WBD has the more popular network for basketball content. The four-letter company does a terrible job at giving out basketball content, and you can see it. NBC just has Mike Tricio, who I believe is top-tier at calling games, but I'm not subscribing to Peacock to watch games, so they can kick rocks. Amazon, can outright just up the price if they really wanted too.

[cheese318]

The NBA's argument, I figure, will be that WBD can only match the NBC package or some such.

But if that was the case, why did the NBA submit all 3 offers to WBD for review? Either the clause says they can match other offers or it does not.

And then, WBD matches the Amazon offer to the tee or they do not.

Watching games on Prime would be super annoying though. So the package really should stay at WBD on cable anyway. You can go to your dream PPV model next time, Nosferatu.

Yes i was trying to figure out how they can block this from happening if it is in contract they are allowed to match. You do bring up a good point if it is specific to which one it can match. I think this a major win for NBA/TNT. I don’t care to watch Amazon NBA nor do I want to on Peacock. If I didn’t get peacock for like $1/month I wouldn’t even consider it

[haste10176]

The NBA's argument, I figure, will be that WBD can only match the NBC package or some such.

But if that was the case, why did the NBA submit all 3 offers to WBD for review? Either the clause says they can match other offers or it does not.

And then, WBD matches the Amazon offer to the tee or they do not.

Watching games on Prime would be super annoying though. So the package really should stay at WBD on cable anyway. You can go to your dream PPV model next time, Nosferatu.

Yes i was trying to figure out how they can block this from happening if it is in contract they are allowed to match. You do bring up a good point if it is specific to which one it can match. I think this a major win for NBA/TNT. I don’t care to watch Amazon NBA nor do I want to on Peacock. If I didn’t get peacock for like $1/month I wouldn’t even consider it

The NBA will argue the terms are different and the value amazon offer is greater because they have 200milliom subscribers vs 100million.. Or they will come up with something else but I dont see how they win since they agreed to matching rights in their previous contract.. They may argue WBD will be unable to pay the contract amount or put the money escrow as Amazon did and I suspect that provision was in there to thwart wbd in the first place because they are not worried about Amazon not being able to pay their bills.

[docholliday99]

The NBA will argue the terms are different and the value amazon offer is greater because they have 200milliom subscribers vs 100million.. Or they will come up with something else but I dont see how they win since they agreed to matching rights in their previous contract.. They may argue WBD will be unable to pay the contract amount or put the money escrow as Amazon did and I suspect that provision was in there to thwart wbd in the first place because they are not worried about Amazon not being able to pay their bills.

It's interesting how the NBA is using Prime in their negotiation process. WBD didn't want to meet the league's number so they stepped back and stated they don't have to have the league - the NBA they called their bluff and will get their number regardless.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sounded an ominous note when he said during an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”

Warner Bros. Discovery and the league were unable to reach a deal during the exclusive negotiating period, which expired in April. Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser have said during the past couple months, though, that it intended to match one of the deals.

[haste10176]

The NBA will argue the terms are different and the value amazon offer is greater because they have 200milliom subscribers vs 100million.. Or they will come up with something else but I dont see how they win since they agreed to matching rights in their previous contract.. They may argue WBD will be unable to pay the contract amount or put the money escrow as Amazon did and I suspect that provision was in there to thwart wbd in the first place because they are not worried about Amazon not being able to pay their bills.

It's interesting how the NBA is using Prime in their negotiation process. WBD didn't want to meet the league's number so they stepped back and stated they don't have to have the league - the NBA they called their bluff and will get their number regardless.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sounded an ominous note when he said during an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”

Warner Bros. Discovery and the league were unable to reach a deal during the exclusive negotiating period, which expired in April. Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser have said during the past couple months, though, that it intended to match one of the deals.

If WBD had paid what ESPN did i think 2.3billion it would of been cheaper than the 2.7billion NBC ended up at although if they match Amazons 1.8billion its cheaper but far less games.. Chuck is probably happy with that deal.